Domestic-pan-forming device

ABSTRACT

THIS DISCLOSURE RELATES TO A DOMESTIC-PAN FORMER WHEREIN AN OPEN HOUSING INCLUDES A RESILIENTLY DEPRESSIBLE BACKING MEMBER, AND A DIE IS ENGAGEABLE IN THE HOUSING AGAINST THE BACKING MEMBER FOR DEFORMING A DEFORMABLE SHEET INTO CONFORMING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DIE.

J. H. TAYLOR DOMESTIC-PAN-FORMING DEVICE Jan. 5, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed may 22. 1968.

JOHN H. TAYLOR Mi M "United States Patent O 3,552,165 DOMESTIC-PAN-FORMING DEVICE John H. Taylor, 410 S. Harvey Ave.,

Ferguson, Mo. 63135 Filed May 22, 1968, Ser. No. 731,000 Int. Cl. B21tl 26/00 US. Cl. 72-57 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a domestic-pan former wherein an open housing includes a resiliently depressible backing member, and a die is engageable in the housing against the backing member for deforming a deformable sheet into Conforming engagement with the die.

SUMMARY It is an important object of the present invention to prolong useful life.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawing, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view showing a pan-forming device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing a pan formed by the instant device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating an intermediate stage in operation of the instant device.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawing, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, the pan-forming device of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and includes a housing 11 adapted to rest on a suitable support, such as a counter top. In position spaced over the housing 11 is a die, generally designated 12, and inter- "ice posed between the elevated die and housing 11 is a sheet 13 of deformable material, such as aluminum foil, or the like.

The housing 11 may be of generally rectangular configuration, or other suitable configuration, if desired, including an upstanding rear wall 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), a pair of upstanding side walls 16 extending forwardly from opposite sides or ends of the rear wall 15, and a generally vertical front wall 17 extending laterally between the forward ends of the side walls 16. The rear wall 15 and side walls 16 may have their lower edges substantially flush for bearing engagement with a supporting surface, while the lower region of the front wall 17 is open, terminating at a lower edge 18 spaced above the level of the lower rear and side wall edges. The side walls 16 are each provided with a pair of forwardly extending portions 20 on opposite sides of the front wall opening.

Interiorly, the housing 11 may be provided with a bottom wall 21 extending generally horizontally between and substantially flush with the lower edges of side walls 16, and projecting forwardly beyond the front wall 17 into the space between forwardly extending side wall portions 20. The bottom wall 21 may terminate rearwardly short of the rear wall 15, and an internal partition 22 may upstand from the rear edge of the bottom wall 21 extending laterally between the side walls 16. A generally horizontal, intermediate wall 23 extends from the front wall 17, substantially flush with its lower edge 18 rearwardly to the rear wall 15 and laterally between the side walls 16. Thus, the intermediate wall 23 is spaced horizontally between the lower and upper edges of the side walls 16, rear wall 15, and front wall 17.

The housing 11 may be formed with a top wall 25 extending generally horizontally between the upper edges of the rear wall 15, side walls 16 and front wall 17, the top wall 25 having a relatively large central thru opening 26 communicating downwardly with the interior of the housing 11. Viewed otherwise, the top wall 25 may be considered as an inturned peripheral flange extending about the upper edges of the rear wall 15, side walls 16 and front wall 17, bounding the central opening 26. As described, the housing 11 is generally rectangular, but may be of other polygonal configuration, if desired. Further, the top wall opening 26 of the housing 11 is also illustrated as being generally rectangular, but may also be of other generally polygonal configuration.'Upstanding from the housing top wall 25, extending in bounding relation about the upper housing opening 26 is a guideway or sleeve 27. That is, the guideway or sleeve 27 extends conformably about the top wall opening 26, upstanding therefrom, and is similarly of polygonal configuration.

In the space between the bottom wall 21, side walls 16, partition 22 and intermediate wall 23, there is defined a compartment or chamber 28 for a purpose appearing presently. Along the side walls 16 in the compartment 28 extending forwardly and rearwardly spaced below the intermediate wall 23 are a pair of ribs 30. A hinged, platelike closure member 31 extends laterally between the walls 16 immediately beneath the intermediate wall 23 and has its side margins slidably supported on respective ribs or rails 30. Thus, the closure 31 is slidable forwardly and rearwardly between an open, rearward position shown in FIG. 4, and a forward closed position shown in FIG. 3. In the latter position it will be seen that the closure 31 is formed with a hinged joint 32, so that the forwardmost region 33 of the closure falls downwardly to close the front of compartment 28, the remainder of the dos ure 31 closing the upper region of the compartment forwardly of front wall 17. Interiorly of the compartment 28 may be located a supply 34 of sheets 13 for use in forming pans in accordance with the present invention. The stack or supply 34 of sheets 13 is obviously neatly and conveniently stored in the compartment 28, being maintained in proper condition by the closure 31 being closed, and readily accessible for withdrawal upon opening of the closure.

Interiorly of the housing 11 adjacent to the upper housing opening 26, are a plurality of stop members 35, 36 and 37. Each of the stop members 35-37 may comprise a bracket-like fixture having a vertical part and a horizontal part. The stop member 35 has its vertical part fixed to the rear wall 15, and its horizontal part projecting inwardly therefrom slightly into the opening 26. The stop members 36 are each arranged with their vertical part fixed to a respective housing side wall 16 and their horizontal parts extending laterally inwardly toward each other slightly into the opening 26. The remaining stop member 37 has its vertical part fixed to the front wall 16 and its horizontal part projecting rearwardly inwardly slightly into the opening 26. Thus, the stop members 35-37 all have their horizontal parts closely beneath adjacent portions of the housing top wall 25 and projecting slightly into the opening 26 from respective sides of the opening.

Interiorly of the housing 11, within the space over intermediate wall 23 and bounded within the rear wall 15, side walls 16 and front wall 17, is a resiliently compressible block or body 40, say of sponge rubber, foam or the like. The resiliently compressible body or block 40 defines a backing member, as will appear presently, and is substantially conformably engaged within the upper interior region of housing 11, having its upper surface 41 extending across the opening 26.

The die 12 is formed with a generally flat, polygonal bottom wall 42 of a configuration similar to and smaller than that of the opening 26, being rectangular in the illustrated embodiment. The bottom wall 42 is substantially rigid, and is provided along its respective sides with a plurality of upstanding side walls 43. The bottom wall 42 and side walls 43 combine to define a substantially rigid die body of polygonal configuration spacedly and con formably engageable in the housing top wall opening 26. Extending outwardly from the upper edges of the die side walls 43 to the underside of the adjacent portion of shouldoutstanding flange or shoulder 44. The shoulder 44 is of a substantially constant width about the die body 42, 43, which width is approximately equal to the height or depth of the die body or die side walls 43. In addition, the width of peripheral shoulder 44 is such that it comformably and slidably engages downwardly through the guide or sleeve 27 toward the top wall opening 26.

A peripheral wall 45, also of polygonal configuration may upstand from the outer edge of shoulder 44, extending circumferentially thereabout. Desirably, the die 12 is substantially rigid, the bottom wall 42, side walls 43, shoulder 44 and peripheral wall 45, all being substantially rigid, and a rigidifying structure of crosswebs 46 may be formed interiorly for further rigidifying reinforcement.

Further, the die 12 is formed with a plurality of diagonal fins or webs 47, each extending outwardly from a respective juncture or corner of the side walls 43. The fins or webs 47 are preferably relatively thin, and may be of generally triangular configuration, each extending diagonally outward from a respective juncture of adjacent walls 43 to the underside of the adjacent portion of shoulder 44, and having a diagonal outer edge 48 extending from the outer periphery of bottom wall 42 to the lower edge of peripheral wall 45.

In operation, the die 12 is slidably and conformably engageable downwardly into the sleeve or guide 27, with the bottom die wall 42 and side walls 43 of the die conformably depressing the backing member or compressible body 40. Prior to engagement of die 12 in opening 26, a sheet 13 is interposed in the opening 26, substantially congruently received therein. Upon engagement of the die 12 into the housing opening 26, and depressing the die to engagement of the shoulder 44 with stop members -37, the condition of FIG. 4 is assumed. In this condition, the previously flat deformable sheet 13 has been formed into a pan 50 having a generally rectangular bottom wall 51 in conforming engagement with the underside of die bottom wall 42. The pan 50 includes a plurality of upstanding side walls 52 each in conforming engagement with the exterior of a respective die side wall 43. Further, the pan 50 has its corners, at the junctures of side walls 52 provided with mitered folds 53, each conformably engaging about a respective fin 47. Thus, the mitered folds 53, as seen in FIG. 2, are essentially double layers or thicknesses of the sheet material of generally triangular configuration, and assure the formation of substantially flat bottom wall 51 and side walls 52. If desired, in use, the mitered corners 53 may be folded fiat against an adjacent side 52, or remain in their outstanding condition. Of course, removal of the die 12 from the condition of FIG. 4 permits of removal of the pan 50 and return of the backing member to its undistorted condition of FIG. 3. Additional pans may be formed by repetition of the above-described procedure.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. For example, while the housing 11 and die 12 may advantageously be formed say by molding of plastic, it is appreciated that other materials and fabrication methods may be employed without departing from the instant invention.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a pan-forming device for domestic use which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

What is claimed is:

1. A domestic-pan-forming device comprising a housing having an upwardly facing opening, a resiliently depressible backing member of sponge-like material extending across said opening, upstanding guide means on said housing adjacent to said opening, and a male die removably engageable downwardly along said guide means into said opening and conformably against said backing member, said die comprising a rigid body of generally polygonal formation conformably engageable in said backing member, and a plurality of triangular fins outstanding from the corners of said rigid body, whereby said body and fins deform a sheet between said backing member and die into a polygonal receptacle having mitered folds at its corners.

2. A domestic-pan-forming device according to claim 1, in combination with an outstanding shoulder extending about said rigid body, and stop means on said housing extending into said opening for limiting abutment with said shoulder.

3. A domestic-pan-forming device according to claim 2, said shoulder being of a width approximately equal to the depth of said rigid body, and said housing opening being configured to conformably receive said shoulder, whereb a deformed sheet conformably engaged in said opening is folded to conform to said rigid body.

4. A domestic-pan-forming device according to claim 3, said guide means comprising a sleeve surrounding said opening and conformably receiving and guiding said shoulder.

5. A domestic-pan-forming device according to claim 4, said housing having an interior hollow beneath said 6 backing member and opening laterally from said housing 1,737,789 12/1929 Fine 9360 for containing a supply of deformable sheets, and open- 2,308,998 1/ 1943 Misfeldt 7255 able closure means for selectively opening and closing 2,927,549 3/1960 Derbyshire 7254 said hollow aifording removable access to the contained 3,121,944 2/ 1964 Karau 7258 sheets for placement thereof on said backing member.

5 RICHARD J. HERBST, Primary Examiner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CL 9360; 113-120 385,905 7/1888 Cannon 7257 1,645,931 10/1927 Ruckert et al. 113120H 

